>https://mediacentre.hs2.org.uk/news/hs2-on-track-for-pivotal-12-months-as-high-speed-railway-takes-shapeThe project will now shift from enabling works - the boring invisible stuff like clearing land, putting up fences and so on - to actual construction. This includes the expected formal start of work on Birmingham Curzon Street, and breakthrough of the first machine being used to bore the Chilterns tunnel – the longest on the route.
In 2024, contracts will be agreed to oversee building of the tracks, zero-carbon power supply, signalling systems, overhead lines, and the maintenance depot & control centre at Washwood Heath. Actual physical laying of the rails will be the very last physical works to begin, around 2026/2027.
...so things are likely to gradually start taking shape in the coming year, rather than being a scattered bunch of tunnelling works and political sabotage. I'd like to think that, as concrete begins to be poured and people start seeing structures emerge - a sign that Things Are Actually, Definitely Happening - that normies are going to start making positive noises about the thing, but, who knows. There's also going to be an election next year, so, who the fuck knows how that'll turn out for the project either.
